per'-i-zit, pe-riz'-it (perizzi; Pherezaios): Signifies "a villager," and so corresponds with the Egyptian fellah. Hence, the Perizzite is not included among the sons of Canaan in Genesis 10, and is also coupled with the Canaanite (Genesis 13:7; 34:30; Judges 1:4). We hear, accordingly, of Canaanites and Perizzites at Shechem (Genesis 34:30), at Bezek in Judah (Judges 1:4) and, according to the reading of the Septuagint, at Gezer (Joshua 16:10). In Deuteronomy 3:5 and 1 Samuel 6:18, where the King James Version has "unwalled towns" and "country villages," the Septuagint has "Perizzite," the literal translation of the Hebrew being "cities of the Perizzite" or "villager" and "village of the Perizzite." The same expression occurs in Esther 9:19, where it is used of the Jews in Elam. In Joshua 17:15,18, where the Manassites are instructed to take possession of the forest land of Carmel, "Perizzites and Rephaim" are given as the equivalent of "Canaanite."

A. H. Sayce

From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Edited by James Orr, published in 1939 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

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